Page 52 of BillionHeir
I look up from my plate to see her brows knit together in concern.
“Yeah, everything is okay” I say, trying not to let her see the doubt in my eyes that will betray me. “I just had a few things that needed my attention.”
I reach over and place my hand on the back of hers. Even when I am questioning our relationship, I still can’t fight the urge to want to touch her.
“Do you need to work? I can take care of these,” she says, gesturing to the dirty dishes on the table.
I nod and wipe my face one last time with my napkin, trying to hide the deceit that I know is written all over my face. I don’t need to go back to my office, but under these circumstances, it is the best way for me to avoid Chloe.
* * *
Two rather uncomfortable days later, Liam and Tristan arrive. Tristan with his usual jokes and ridiculousness and Liam with his studious gaze that misses nothing.
What I didn’t expect is for them to dote on Chloe and treat her like the sister none of us actually have. They are cracking jokes, mostly at my expense, while we all sit by the pool with some drinks that Chloe made for us.
“You guys have to tell me how you all met. There has got to be a good story there,” Chloe says, opening up the door for a trip down memory lane that I am not sure she is prepared for.
Liam throws his head back as he laughs. “The three of us met during our first year at Exeter Academy. All of the kids there were well-off, of course, but it didn’t take long for everyone to figure out where they belonged in the hierarchy of wealth. As it turns out, the three of us were from the richest families in the whole school, each of us destined to inherit a vast fortune. Once we got over our egos and realized how similar the three of us were, we joined forces to rule the school.”
“Kings of the campus, eh? I can just picture it now,” Chloe says, looking over at me and placing her hand atop mine.
Rather than enjoy the closeness, I can feel embarrassment rise in my cheeks as I quickly pull my hand out from under hers and look around to make sure the boys didn’t catch that. Neither one of them are looking at us, but I have a feeling they saw. I clear my throat and give Chloe a stern look, shaking my head in annoyance.
Chloe gasps quietly with a look on her face as though I just slapped her. Rather than apologizing to her, and explaining what is going on to my friends, I grit my teeth and look away.
“So, tell us the truth, Chloe,” Tristan says jovially as all the muscles in my body tense. “How bad has the notorious Banks temper been?”
I relax a little in my chair. I was worried that he was going to ask about our relationship. But my mood? That I can handle. I think I have been pretty well-behaved, all things considered.
Chloe’s eyes flit to mine hesitantly before shifting back to the boys. There is no sign of hostility on her face from my obvious dismissal, but hopefully she won’t make a scene.
We had an amazing night together, but we haven’t spoken about it since. I will admit to feeling rather cowardly about the whole situation, hiding myself away to avoid talking, so I am a bit relieved, and maybe a little hurt, that she hasn’t mentioned our time together. I don’t know what I wanted, but the calm, reserved nurse she has resorted back to over the past couple of days has been a stark contrast from the woman she was before we slept together.
I know it is completely my fault, and yet, I feel powerless to change it. I am almost fully recovered from my injuries at this point and no longer need a private nurse to wait on me hand and foot. But the fact remains that we are both still here, and I can’t seem to let her go.
“He was a bit ill-mannered that first week or so, but once I learned how to handle him, things went much more smoothly,” she says, giving them a sweet smile as she says it. “But he has been a bit preoccupied with work the last few days.”
That gets both of their attention.
“I thought Ethan was handling everything. You said your email was empty when I called,” Tristan says, oblivious to the fact that he is blowing my cover.
“Yes, well,” I say, scrambling for an excuse that will appease everyone. “A deal for a merger with a new company just came across my desk. One that I couldn’t pass up.”
“Tell us about it,” Liam says, leaning in for more detail.
Just as I am about to give them the specifics, Chloe clears her throat, giving the boys a polite smile and stands.
“I think I will get myself a cup of tea. That will give you gents a chance to catch up.”
Her face is tight as she gathers the empty glasses from the table, blatantly avoiding my eyes. I could swear I see her carefully controlled expression fall as she walks inside, but maybe that is just my imagination.
“Did you watch that basketball game last night?” Tristan asks when I turn back to look at them, totally unaware of the tension.
“What was that all about?” Liam asks far more observantly. Damn him.
A look of realization dawns on Tristan’s face as he looks back and forth between me and Liam. “Are you fucking her?”
I nearly spit out the sip of water I just took. “What?”
